mark croker

I would have done it before the breeding season if you had too about a month before, but you are too late if you have not paired up and expect to race in april, you can do it after breeding but you have to make sure that it is at least 2 weeks before racing as you have to keep them away from other birds for that long, i nomally do the old birds when the finish the moult and the young 2 weeks after the loft is closed to new introductions

Its used as a preventative against all sorts, Sodium bicarbonate is used in an aqueous solution as an antacid taken orally to treat acid indigestion and heartburn.[7] It may also be used in an oral form to treat chronic forms of metabolic acidosis such as chronic renal failure and renal tubular acidosis. Sodium bicarbonate may also be useful in urinary alkalinization for the treatment of aspirin overdose and uric acid renal stones. An aqueous solution is sometimes administered intravenously for cases of acidosis, or when there are insufficient sodium or bicarbonate ions in the blood. [8]In cases of respiratory acidosis, the infused bicarbonate ion drives the carbonic acid/bicarbonate buffer of plasma to the left and, thus, raises the pH. It is for this reason that sodium bicarbonate is used in medically-supervised cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Infusion of bicarbonate is indicated only when the blood pH is marked (<7.1-7.0) low.[9] It is used as well for treatment of hyperkalemia. Since sodium bicarbonate can cause alkalosis, it is sometimes used to treat aspirin overdoses. Aspirin requires an acidic environment for proper absorption, and the basic environment diminishes aspirin absorption in the case of an overdose. Sodium bicarbonate has also been used in the treatment of tricyclic antidepressant overdose.[10] It can also be applied topically as a paste, with three parts baking soda to one part water, to relieve insect bites. [11] Adverse reactions to the administration of sodium bicarbonate can include metabolic alkalosis, edema due to sodium overload, congestive heart failure, hyperosmolar syndrome, hypervolemic hypernatremia, and hypertension due to increased sodium. In patients who consume a high calcium or dairy-rich diet, calcium supplements, or calcium-containing antacids such as calcium carbonate (e.g., Tums), the use of sodium bicarbonate can cause milk-alkali syndrome, which can result in metastatic calcification, kidney stones, and kidney failure. Sodium bicarbonate is also used as an ingredient in some mouthwashes. It works as a mechanical cleanser on the teeth and gums, neutralizes the production of acid in the mouth and also as an antiseptic to help prevent infections occurring Small amounts of sodium bicarbonate have been shown to be useful as a supplement for endurance athletes,[12] but overdose is a serious risk.[13]

Also i think some times they are looking and picking for the sake of it and not coz they need it, my birds have just been fed at 8 and are a the mo pecking around the garden, they dont need anything :-/:)

Its pink mate, i used to put a tray of salt in the loft no more than one grain deep or the birds will gorge on it, i only did this when on young as i noticed my dirds were going the beach for salt water, i now mix pink minerals,pickstone and lime grit and tip it straight on to the floor of the loft and it works a treat, i was told that you can use horse blocks and that is better than the tray of salt, but this works best for me

I use it with epson salts, mixed together 50/50 then 1 tea spoon per litre of water, i mix it cold and use it 1 day on 1 day off untill the go firm, the bicarb stiffens the dropping and the epsom salts draw all the badness from the liver , seems to be alot of differant ways but this works for me, just make sure that you are not covering up a bigger problem :-/

People say you can boil the belg rings and fit them on old birds, then race them as young birds, i tried this last year for a young cock that i was to late to ring, the plastic ring got contourted and cooled before i got it near the bird, never mind putting a boiling hot ring on one of my birds, i think it is all a farce

I was late reading the ramblings,

The belg rings are all plastic, GB have a tin inner as long as SU rings have the tin inner of the ring they can be raced in the rpra

I could of made one from laminating the tickets together into sheets ;D ;D ;D The thing is, i dont even want or need one

its in last weeks homing world page 19 , a CUTTS CHEAM won the loft :-/ not me anyway, never won anything and have done them every year :-/

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :'(

Who says that we dont know about ponies, they dont know that pigeons are not far from a pony with wings, ;D ;D :X

nowt wrong with us helping out, if anyone thinks thats it doesn't happen with all polls you must be mad, its not what you know its who you know and if it increases in value i am off to bye a cheap pony

Done good luck

Thanks mate,

The young could have hatched 10 days before the 4th/5th and still get them on, i like to put them on at 8 days old but you will still get them on at 10, but you will hurt the young

He deserves the praise he gets, i wish i still had his inthusiasm but so called fanciers have knocked it out of me ;D, all the best for the future mate, And all the best to PB Members as alot of the lads and lasses on here will help out and you get a good sense of community when on here, This is what the sport has been looking for, people helping out and them saying thanks

They are mate, but with a conventional clock they dont have to be, i mean is there a rule saying that they do :-/

Congrats and best wishers to you and the family I know how they feel, my 2nd is due anyday now

HAHAHA, but it does make you think how they can say that you cant, not to say that i would anyway

NO NOT ALLOWED I was speaking to a lad the other day, he said to me, i dont know why you are not allowed the e,t,s outside the loft as if you are using a , say T3 and you can get the bird to land on your arm when it comes back from a race there is nowt to stop you clocking it there and then, That got me thinking a bit more in depth, :-/

Bosmolem were the best but are now owened by Versele Laga, i think that they have only kept 3 mixes thou,

Let them out for a fly and play, that will do the trick i think Leave them out for a couple of hours

i put the bowls straight in, i let the cocks out to come back in to the bowls, i will be using the bowls as a trigger so i want it to be the same as i will when i am racing, i put shavings in the bowl and let the cocks in them lock him there, i then lock the hens in the other side of the box and let the cock calm down as he has not seen a hen for months, i then put the stalks in after about 2/3 days, and i never use nest felts the wood in the corner is also a good tip, the hens will pair easyer if the cock cant beat her, they will pair up through the wires and he will then start to call her to the bowl

Nice photos john, i think i will be bringing Miss Miracle around for her photo shoot soon, and i like the shadow, all ya birds are in good nic thou mate, good luck with them